Liquid cooler



Aug. 30, 1938. R.y E. BILLINGS4 LIQUID oo oLER Filed March 26, 193'?`Mm/lIalMrMAl/m:

Inventor: Rlph E-Blllrwgs,

I-ls Attor`r1e y Panarea Aug. 3o, 193s LIQUID COOLER Ralph E. Billings,Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to General Electricl Company, a.- corporationof New York Application Marchv 26, 1937, Serial No. 133,217 'tirarme`(ci. s2-141) v My invention relates to mechanically refrigerated liquidcoolers Vfor cooling drinking Water or other liquids.

Itis an object of my invention to provide an 5 improved arrangement forcontrolling the admission of liquid refrigerant into a. refrigerantevaporator of a liquid cooler and-for preventing flood- ,ing of theevaporator with liquid refrigerant and Withdrawal of liquid refrigeranttherefrom into a refrigerant liquefying unit associated therewith.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved controlarrangement for liquid coolers, which is effective in operation, simpleand compact in structure andv economical `in construction.-

Further objects and advantages lof my invention will become apparent asthe following dei scription proceeds, and the features of novelty 20which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularityin the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawing in which the single figure is an elevational View,partly in section, of a liquid cooler em.

bodying my invention, and a diagram of a refrigerantliquefying unitassociated with a refrigerant evaporator arranged in the liquid cooler.i y Referring to the drawing, .lA have shown a 'liquid cooler having avertically disposed cylindrical casing l0 forming a liquid chamber iltherein. Preferably, the casing i0 is made of sheet steel and includes"acylindrical side Wall I2, an inwardly concave top wall i3 and anoutwardly convex bottom wall ist, the peripheral edges of the top andbottom walls being flanged .and welded to the adjacent end edges of thecylindrical side Walll i2. This construction of the casing l0 permitsliquid under relatively high `pressure to be stored safely in the liquidchamber II. A refrigerant evaporator i5 is disposed within the liquidchamber' Il for cooling the f liquid stored therein and comprisesspaced-apart inner and outer helical coils I6 and i1 respectively, whichare connected in series at their lower ends. Preferably, the inner andouter coils I6 and I'l are formed from a single length of conduit, andthey are wound 'in opposite directions to provide maximum contact withthe surrounding liquid in the liquid chamber II. The outer coil il isprovided with an inlet end I8 which extends through and is secured in anopen- 55 ing I9 in thetop Wall I3 of the casing il), The

outer coil Il extends from the upper portion of the liquid chamber Hdownwardly to the lower portion thereof where it communicates with the4inner coil It. The inner coil i6v extends from the lower portion of theliquid chamber Il upwardly to the upper portion thereof and thenvdownwardly to the lower portion thereof. The inner coil i6 is providedwith an enlarged. outlet end 2U which extends from the lower portion ofthe liquid chamber il upwardly through the upperportion thereof, and issecured in an opening 2| in the top wall i3 of the casing i0.

The inlet end i8 of the outer coil il is connected to a liquidrefrigerant supply conduit 22 through an yautomatic thermostaticexpansion valve 23 which controls the admission of liquid refrigerantthereto. The automatic thermostatic expansion valve 23 isv of theconventional type and throttles the flow of liquid refrigerant into theouter coil il and includes a thermostatic element or bulb 2t connectedtothe automatic thermostatic expansion valve 23 by a conduit 25. Thethermostatic bulb 2d contains a fluid, such as sulphur dioxide. Theoutlet end 20 of the inner coil it is closed by a fitting 26 which isconnected to a refrigerant suction conduit 2l. A conduit 28 extendsthrough an opening in the top wall of the fitting 26 into the interiorof the enlarged outlet end 20 of the inner coil i6 and is provided witha closed end forming a well 29 therein disposed adjacent the lowerportion' of the liquid chamber ii and arranged in good heat exchangerelationship with the vaporized refrigerant in the enlarged outlet end2li of the inner coil I6. The thermostati'c bulb 2t for controlling theautomatic thermostatic expansion valve 23 is positioned inthe well 2e ingood heat exchange relationship therewith. l

.The liquid to be cooled, such as drinking water or the like, issupplied to the upper portion of the liquid chamber il under pressurethrough a supply conduit l secured in an opening 3i in the top wail i3of the casing lil. The liquid vsuppliedv to the liquid chamber il isstored therein under pressure and withdrawn from the lower portionthereof after it -has been cooled through a Withdrawal conduit 32secured in an ,opening 33 in the top wall of the casing i0. It will beobserved that the inlet end of the liquid Withdrawal conduit 32 isarranged on the opposite side of the liquid chamber ii from the outletend of the liquid supply conduit 30. Thus, the liquid from the supplyconduit 30 ows downwardly and through the helical coils Il and i6 insubstantial- 1y a sinuous path to the liquid withdrawal conduit 32, thissinuous path of the liquid flowing through the helical coils I1 andI6being produced by the opposite inclination of these coils due to thefact that they are wound in opposite directions. As the liquid in theliquid chamber II is cooled, it gravitates to the lower portion thereofforming a zone of relatively cool liquid. As the relatively warm liquidis supplied to the upper portion of the liquid chamber II, therelatively cool zone of liquid in the lower portion thereof isintermixed only slightly therewith.

The casing I0, the connections between various conduits and the casingI0, and the automatic thermostatic expansion valve 23 are surrounded bya suitable layer of heat insulation. and enclosed in an outer 35includes a cylindrical side wall 36 and removable ends 31, the ends 31being removable to facilitate inspection of the liquid cooler andadjustment of the automatic thermostatic expansion valve 23.

During operation of the liquid cooler illustrated, .liquid refrigerantis supplied to the inlet refrigerant suction conduit 21.

end I8 of the outer coil I1 from the liquid refrigerant supply conduitmatic thermostatic expansion valve 23. The liquid refrigerant isvaporized in the coils I1 and I6 by the absorption of heat from thesurrounding liquid in the liquid chamber II, drawn from the enlargedoutlet end 23 of the inner coil I6 through the fitting 26 through the lLiquid refr-ign erant is supplied\to\the/liquid refrigerant supplyconduit 22 and vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn from the refrigerantsuction .conduit 21 by a. refrigerant liquefying unit including arefrigerant compressor 38 and a refrigerant condenser 39. 'I'hecompressor 33. is connected to the refrigerant suction conduit 21 and isdriven by an electric motor 40 by a belt 4I arranged between a pulley 42carried by the shaft of the electric motor 40, and a flywheel 43 carriedby the shaft of the compressor 33. The compressor is of thereciprocating type and compresses the vaporized refrigerant anddischarges the same into the condenser 39, wherein it is liquefied anddelivered to a liquid receiver A4 connected to the liquid refrigerantsupply line 22. The 'electric motor 40 isv connected to a suitablesource of supply 45 by a pair of leads 46 and 41, an electric switch 43being arranged in the lead 41 to control the circuit of the electricmotor 40. 'I'he electric switch 43 is controlled by an expanslblebellows 49 mounted upon a support 53 and connected by a conduit 5I to athermostatic element or bulb 52 arranged in good heat eX- changerelationship with the liquid stored in the liquid chamber I I. such assulphur dioxide, and is positioned in a. well 53 formed in the closedend of a conduit 54, the conduit 54 extending 'through and being securedin an opening 55 'in the top wall I3 of the casing I3. When thetemperature of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber rises to apredetermined temperature the iiuid in the thermostatic bulb 52 expandssufficiently to actuate the bellows 49 and close the electric switch 43`to start the electric motor'4ll. 'I'he'refrigerating cycle abovedescribed is.continuous1y repeated until the liquid stored in the liquidchamber I I is cooled to a `predetermined temperature. 'I'he fluid inthe thermostatic bulb 52 then contracts sufficiently to actuate thebellows 43 andvopen the electric switch 43 to stop the electric motor40.

shell 35. The outer shellA 22 through the auto-- and with- The bulb 52contains a fluid.

larged uter end 20 of the inner coil I3 and adjacent the lower portionAof the liquid chamber I I and the arrangement 24 therein for controllingthe automatic thermostatic expansion valve 23 is very important as asubstantial improvement in the operation of the liquid cooler isobtained thereby. The arrangement of the thermostatic bulb 24 in thewell 29 formed in the closed end of the conduit 23 and the arrangementof the conduit 23 in the outlet end 23 of the inner coil I6 where it issurrounded by the vaporized refrigerant therein is effective to producea very accurate control of the automatic thermostatic expansion valve 23in response to the temperature of the vaporof the thermostatic bulb izedrefrigerant inthe outlet end 20 of the inner coil I6, there being asmall temperature difference between the vaporized refrigerant and thefluid `contained in the thermostatic bulb 24.

The well 23 is arranged in the enlarged outlet end 20 of the innery coilI6 and disposed in the well 29 in the lower portion of theliquidvchamber I I and the thermostatic bulb 24 is positioned thereinso4 that the operation of the thermostatic bulb 24 will not beappreciably affected by the temperature of the relatively cool zone ofliquid in the lower portion of the liquid chamber II. The thermostaticbulb 24 is not appreciably affected by the temperature of this zone ofliquid because 'the temperature of this zone closely parallels thesaturation temperature of the vaporized refrigerant in the enlargedoutlet end 23 of the inner coil I3. Thus. the thermostatic bulb 24accurately controls the automatic'thermostatic expansion valve 23 inresponse to the temperature of the vaporized refrigerant inthe enlargedoutlet end 20 ofthe inner 'coil I3. The admission of liquid refrigerantinto the evaporator I5 is thus properly controlled in spite ofvariations in the temperature of the liquid supplied to theliquid'chamber II through the supply conduit 30 and in ambienttemperature, and there is no fiooding of the evaporator I5 or withdrawalof liquid refrigerant therefrom through the refrigliquefying unit. I y

While I have shown a particular embodiment H of my invention inconnection'with a liquid cooler refrigerated by a refrigerating machineof the compression type, I do not desire my invention to limited totheparticular construction shown and described, and I intend in theappended claims to 'cover all modifications within the spirit and scopeof my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

l. A liquid cooler including a-casing forming a liquid chamber, meansincluding a. refrigerant evaporator for coolingthe liquid therein, meansvfor supplying liquid refrigerant to saidevaporator, means including anexpansionvalve located at the inlet of said evaporator for controllingthe admission of refrigerant thereto, and -means including athermostatic element disposed within said chamber adjacent the lowerportion thereof and arranged in the outlet of said evaporator in goodheat exchange lrelationship with the vaporized refrigerant therein forcontrolling said expansion valve. V

2. A liquid cooler including a casing forming a liquid chamber, meansincluding a refrigerant evaporatorfor coolinglthe liquid therein, meansfor supplying liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, means includinganexpanslon valve loconduit extending into said evaporator and having awell therein disposed adjacentthe lower portion of said chamber, saidWell being arranged in good heat exchange relationship with thevaporized refrigerant in the outlet of said evaporator, and meansincluding a thermostatic element positioned in said well for controllingsaid expansion valve.

3. A liquid cooler including a casing-forming a liquid chamber, meansincluding a refrigerant evaporator for cooling the liquid therein, meansincluding a refrigerant liquefying unit for supplying liquid refrigerantto said evaporator, means including an expansion valve located at theinlet of said evaporator for controlling the admission of refrigerantthereto, means including a thermostatic element disposed within saidchamber adjacent the lower portion thereof and arranged in the outlet ofsaid evaporator in good heat exchange relationship with the vaporlzedrefrigerant therein for controlling said expansion valve, and meansincluding a second thermostatic element responsive to the temperatureofthe liquid in said chamber for controlling the operation of saidrefrigerant liquefying unit. i

4. A liquid cooler including a casing rforming a liquid chamber, meansincluding a refrigerant coil for cooling the liquid therein, means forsupplying liquid refrigerant to said coil, means including an expansionvalve located at the inlet end of said coil for controlling theadmission of refrigerant thereto, the outlet end of said coil beingenlarged, and means including a thermostatic element disposed withinsaid chamber adjacent the lower portion thereof and arranged in theenlarged outlet end of said coil in good vheat exchange relationshipwith the vaporized refrigerant therein for controlling said expansionvalve.

5. A liquid cooler including a casing forming a liquid chamber, meansincluding a refrigerant coil for Acooling the liquid therein, means forsupplying liquid yrefrigerant to said coil, means including an expansionvalve located at the inlet end of said coil for controlling theadmission of refrigerant thereto, the outlet end of said coil' beingenlarged,.a conduit extending into the enlarged outlet end of said/coiland having a well therein disposed adjacent the lower portion` of saidchamber, said Well being arranged in good heat exchangev relationshipWith the vaporized refrigerant in the outlet end of said evaporator,

' and means including Aa thermostatic element positioned in said wellfor controlling said expansion valve.

6. A liquid cooler including a vertically disposed casing forming aliquid chamber, means for supplying liquid to the uppe/r portion of saidchamber, means for withdrawing liquid from the lower portion of saidchamber, means including a refrigerant evaporator for cooling the liquidtherein, means for supplying liquid refrigerant to said evaporator,means including an expansion valve located at the inlet of saidevaporator for controlling the admission of refrigerant thereto, andmeans including a thermostatic element disposed within said chamberadjacent the lower portion thereof and arranged in good heat exchangerelationship with the vaporized refrigerant in the outlet of saidevaporator for controlling said expansion valve.

7. A liquid cooler including a vertically disposed casing forming aliquid chamber, means for supplying liquid to the upper portion of saidchamber, means for withdrawing liquid from the lower portion of saidchamber, means including a refrigerant coil for cooling the liquidtherein, means including a refrigerant liquefying unit for supplyingliquid refrigerant to said coil, means including an expansion valvelocated at the inlet end of said coil for controlling the admission ofrefrigerant thereto, the outlet end of said coil being enlarged, meansincluding a thermostatic element disposed within said chamber adjacentthe lower portion thereof and arranged in the enlarged outlet end ofsaid coil in good heat exchange relationship with the `vaporizedrefrigerant therein for controlling said expansion valve, and meansincluding a second thermostatic element responsive to the temperature ofthe liquid in said chamber for controlling the operation of saidrefrigerant liquefying unit.

RALPH E. BILLINGS.

